Gardeners' Notes:

I'm in love with this plant, including the intensely blue/purple flowers. I, too, was disappointed when the variegation disappeared mid-summer. However, the following spring the variegation is as strong and well defined as when I first noticed this pretty. I've been told some variegated plants do this and I now believe it as I also have a variegated agapanthus that loses variegation mid-summer but it comes back the following year.

I have this plant growing in ground, part-sun, and gets hit by the sprinkler. In its 2nd year in my garden, I see lots if seed pods. Will be delighted if it reseeded all over the place.

My initial view of this plant was negative, as I put it in deep shade and the color immediately faded. Now I know it needs at least partial shade to retain the variegated coloration. It is really nice once established, and is perhaps my most reliable partial shade plant for looking good all through the summer. If the foliage looks ratty, you can clip it back. The flowers are not so special (purple, standard columbine flowers), so grow it for the dainty foliage. It reseeds and seedlings retain coloration.